ROLE OF A NUTRITIONIST IN OBESITY AND WEIGHT LOSS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Obesity and overweight are high priority public health issues, and are associated with the burden of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and some cancers. Losing weight sustainably goes beyond just cutting calories; it involves looking at diet, behavior, exercise and constant monitoring. Nutritionists are important in weight management, as they are able to offer one-on-one nutrition counseling, nutritional assessment, behavior modification strategies, and long-term support. The aim of this review is to consolidate current evidence on the contribution of nutritionists in weight loss interventions, to analyze their effect on body weight loss, adherence to the diet, metabolic health and long-term weight maintenance. Nutritionist-led interventions have been shown to be significantly more effective in terms of weight loss than self-directed interventions based on findings from recent clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis. Standardized nutrition counseling, motivational interviewing, and follow-up emerge as important factors of successful weight management. The review emphasizes the need to involve nutritionists in multi-professional health care teams and outlines future perspectives on obesity management such as tele-nutrition and personalized nutrition.